45 Iowa 29 | Iowa | 1876
Code, Sec. 3207, provides that “an assignment of error need follow no stated form, but must, in a way as specific as the case will allow, point out the the very error objected to.” If the assignment of error is sufficiently specific in this case, then the motion for a new trial might in all cases be taken for the assignment, nothing more being necessary than a mere reference to .it.
Besides, the law requires this court to decide on each error assigned. Each assignment should require the consideration of but a single error. The errors assigned should be separated and numbered for convenient reference and discussion.
We are of the opinion, therefore, that the assignment of errors in this case is not such as the law contemplates, and might properly be disregai’ded.
“ If the plaintiff is entitled to recover, the measure of his recovery is what is denominated compensatory damages — that is, such sum as will compensate him for the injury he has sustained.
“The elements entering into damage are the following:
“ 1. Such sum as will compensate him for the expenses he has paid or incurred in effecting his cure and caring for and nursing him during the period that he was disabled by the injury.
“ 2. The value of his time during the period that he was disabled by the inj ury.
“ 3. If the injury has impaired the plaintiff’s power to earn money in the future, such sum as will compensate him for such loss of power.
“4. Such reasonable sum as the jury shall award him on account of pain and anguish he has suffered by reason of his injury.
“The first two of these elements are the subjects of direet proof, and are to be determined by the jury on the evidence they have before them. The third and fourth elements are, from necessity, left to the sound discretion of the jury.”
The appellant contends that the 'court erred in saying to
The court did not say that the jury was not to be guided by such evidence as had been introduced upon those points.
There was considerable evidence in regard to the character of the injury, the pain defendant had suffered, and the disability which, in all probability, he would continue to suffer. There was nothing in the charge of the court calculated to take this evidence from the consideration of the jury. But as there was no evidence and could be no evidence upon these points upon which a computation could be based, the amount of the damages to be allowed was necessarily a matter of discretion. We think the instruction was unobjectionable.
III. The appellant contends that the verdict was contrary to the evidence in that there was no evidence tending to show either that the defendant was negligent, or that the plaintiff was free from negligence.
The plaintiff’s negligence will not enable the defendant to escape liability if the act which caused the injury was done by defendant after it discovered the plaintiff’s negligence, and if the defendant could have avoided the injury in the exercise of reasonable care. Wright v. Brown, 4 Ind., 95; Macon & R. R. Co. v. Davis, 18 Geo., 699; Kerwhacker v. Cleveland & C. R. R. Co., 3 Ohio St., 172; Isbell v. N. Y. & N. H. R. R. Co., 27 Conn., 393; Brown v. Hannibal & St. Joe R. JR. Co., 50 Mo., 464; B. & O. R. R. Co. v. State for use of Trainor, 33 Md., 542; State v. Railroad, 52 N. H., 557; Davies v. Mann, 10 Mees. & W., 546; Dowell v. The General Steam Navigation Co., 5 Ellis & B., 85 E. C. L., 206; Broom’s Legal Maxims, seventh ed., 385, and cases cited.
■ As Platt exercised control over the movements of the locomotive, it was incumbent upon him to use reasonable care to avoid doing an injury by such movements. And if, as a reasonable man, seeing the plaintiff’s position on the car so near ■ the forward end, with his back to the locomotive, he should have apprehended the accident which resulted from the move•ment produced by his signal, his negligence will be considered the proximate cause of the injury.
Under the evidence we must presume that the ’question of Platt’s negligence was considered by the jury; 'and it cannot be denied that if their verdict was based upon a finding that Platt was negligent the evidence on that point is sufficient
Affirmed.